Who:          Mike D’Antoni, New York Knicks head coach

                   Danilo Gallinari, New York Knicks forward

                   Assi Shariv, Consul General of Israel in New York

                   Tony Fromer, President, American Friends of Migdal Ohr

 

When:       Thursday, April 30, 2009

                   3:00 p.m.

 

Where:      The Multipurpose Room at Madison Square Garden

(Media should enter through the Eight Penn Entrance located closest to the corner of 33rd Street and Eighth Avenue)

 

Why:          To Benefit the World’s Largest Orphanage – Migdal Ohr in Israel

 

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The New York Knickerbockers will recognize Aliya Donn of St. Francis Preparatory in Queens and Zach Kriftcher of Schreiber High School on Long Island as the recipients of the Dave DeBusschere Award for the 2008-09 season. Both students excelled in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and have exemplified the same heroic characteristics that Dave DeBusschere carried throughout his life. At tonight’s game versus the New Jersey Nets, Donn and Kriftcher will be presented with the award by Peter DeBusschere, son of Dave DeBusschere.

 

Donn maintained a 94 percent average at St. Francis Preparatory, served as the captain of her team and was named Most Valuable Player. She also received the Girls Catholic High School Athletic Association’s John Moran Sportsmanship Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society and her school’s ministry, with whom she traveled  to New Orleans last summer to rebuild homes and work with victims of Hurricane Katrina.

 

Kriftcher maintained nearly a 4.3 grade point average at Schreiber High School (Li town?) and averaged a double-double this season, 14.0 PPG and 11.0 RPG. As captain, he led his team to victory in the Long Island Conference AA-2 championship and was named to the All-Nassau County team. He also received the conference’s Scholar Athlete Award and is a member of the National Honor Society.

 

Dave DeBusschere starred at the University of Detroit and enjoyed a 12-year career in the NBA. He started his career in his home town of Detroit and played for seven seasons before being traded to the Knicks in December 1968. He helped lead New York to the playoffs in each of his six seasons, including NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. He made five NBA All-Star teams (1970-1974) and one All-NBA Second Team (1969). He retired as a Knick in 1974 before returning to the organization as executive vice president and director of basketball operations in 1982 where he presided for four seasons. He received the highest honor as a Knick on March 24, 1981, when his No. 22 jersey was retired to the rafters of MSG. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.

 

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The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball OperationsDonnie Walsh announced today that free agent forward/center Chris Hunter has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Hunter, a member of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, became the 24th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

 

Hunter, 6-11, 240-pounds, averaged 19.3 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in 47 games with Fort Wayne this season. The Gary, IN-native registered 21 point-rebound double-doubles in 2008-09 with Fort Wayne and ranked among the league leaders in points and rebounds per game. Following a four-year career at the University of Michigan, Hunter played professionally overseas in Poland and Belgium before signing with Fort Wayne prior to this season.

 

The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.

 

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The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walshannounced today that free agent center Mouhamed Sene has been signed to a contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Sene, a member of the Albuquerque Thunderbirds, became the 21st GATORADE Call-Up of the 2008-09 NBA Development League season.

 

Sene, 6-11, 230-pounds, averaged 3.4 points and 1.8 rebounds in five games this season with Oklahoma City before being released by the Thunder on Feb. 19. Sene then signed with Albuquerque and averaged 10.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 blocks in nine games. A native of Senegal, Sene was selected in the first round in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Seattle SuperSonics with the 10th overall pick. Sene has career averages of 2.2 points and 1.5 rebounds in 46 NBA games over three seasons with Seattle/Oklahoma City.

 

The Knicks roster stands at 15 players.

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 The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball OperationsDonnie Walsh announced that forward Danilo Gallinari had successful back surgery today. The laminotomy, performed by orthopedic spine specialist Dr. Patrick O’Leary at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, is a surgical procedure that shaves the bony plate surrounding a nerve root. Gallinari is expected to have a full recovery in 6-8 weeks.

In 28 games this season, the 6-10, 225-pound rookie averaged 6.1 points, 2.0 rebounds and 14.7 minutes. On Mar. 4 versus Atlanta, Gallinari recorded a career-high 17 points.

 

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The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh announced today that guard Joe Crawford has been signed for the remainder of the season. The 6-5, 210-pound rookie had been signed to a 10-day contract on Mar. 27 and has yet to appear in a game for New York.

 

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NYPD Scuba Officers Win “City Spirit” Award For Rescue Of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 Passengers

 The New York Knickerbockers have announced Westchester resident Michael Delaney and Manhattan resident Robert Rodriguez as the winners of the Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” Award for the month of April. The award, named in honor of Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, the first African-American to play for the Knicks, recognizes individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of others. Each month, a winner is chosen by members of the Knicks front office staff and honored at center court during a Knicks game with a $2,000 donation in his or her name made out to a charity each selects. 

 

Last month, Delaney and Rodriguez were presented with the New York City Police Foundation’s Chuck Barris “Cop of the Year” award for their heroic actions in rescuing passengers from the U.S. Airways flight 1549 which made a January emergency landing in the Hudson River. Rodriguez, an eight-year veteran, and Delaney, a nine-year veteran, were helicoptered from Brooklyn’s Harbor Unit and subsequently jumped into the 39-degree water to save two women.

 

At tonight’s game versus the Detroit Pistons, Mike Delaney and Rob Rodriguez will accept the City Spirit Award at Madison Square Garden. They will donate the award money to the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, which funds research for Rett Syndrome, a unique developmental disorder that usually affects girls.

To nominate your hero, or to read more about this month’s winners and other past winners, please visitnyknicks.com.

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The New York Knickerbockers President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walshannounced today that center Courtney Sims has been signed to a second consecutive 10-day contract. Sims was signed to his first 10-day contract on Mar. 23 and has yet to appear in a game for New York.

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Madison Square Garden Family And Their Fans Raise Money For The Garden Of Dreams Foundation

Tomorrow – Thursday, April 2, 2009

Red Carpet Arrivals at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

WHO:         The entire 2008-09 New York Knicks team, alumni and personnel, including Nate Robinson, Chris Duhon, David Lee, John Starks, Allan Houston and the WNBA’s New York Liberty alumna Kym Hampton

 

Celebrity guests expected to attend include: John Leguizamo, Chloe Sevigny, Justin Tuck, Kelly Bensimon, Michael Rapaport, D.L. Hughley, Vincent Pastore, Kerry Rhodes, SI Swimsuit models Jessica Gomes and Esti Ginzburg, among other models

 

WHAT:      “Knicks Bowl 10”, presented by Bud Light – celebrates a decade of giving with a fun-filled, celebrity-studded event, giving fans the opportunity to bowl with Knicks players and celebrities while raising money for the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit charity that works with all areas of Madison Square Garden to make dreams come true for kids in crisis. Since 2000, the Knicks have raised more than $1.5 million through the annual Knicks Bowl event.

 

WHEN:      Tomorrow – Thursday, April 2, 2009

6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

 

WHERE:   300 New York

Chelsea Piers, between Piers 59 & 60

(West 23rd Street and the West Side Highway)

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WHAT:                 An exclusive media preview of the newest attraction at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, theBasketball Hall of Fame’s Hoop Hall Experience (HHX).

                               

The Basketball Hall of Fame presents an unprecedented and one-of-a-kind exhibition, opening April 3 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino just in time for the NCAA championship finals. 

 

The Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoop Hall Experience is a self-paced interactive experience consisting of seven distinct zones jam-packed with artifacts, interactive games, movie clips highlighting the most spectacular moments in basketball history and more. Sports fans may re-live some of basketball’s greatest moments with momentous artifacts including Wilt Chamberlin’s 100 point jersey and the flooring where Michael Jordan took his final shot and more.

 

 WHO:                  Tim Elwell, CEO of HHX, LLC

                                John Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame

Don Senecal, COO of the Basketball Hall of Fame

Scott Zuffelato, VP Marketing/Sponsorship of the Basketball Hall of Fame

 

WHEN:                 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wednesday, April 1

                       

 WHERE:              Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
Mezzanine Level

                                3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South

                                Las Vegas, NV  89109

            

MEDIA:                 All media are encouraged to cover the event and must RSVP to Melanie Shafer atmshafer@kirvindoak.com.  Interview opportunities are available.

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